Truck.



Patented Apr. 2, I90l. J. J. MDULE.

No. s7|,222.

TRUGK. (Appliea tion'filed Aug. 7, 1900.)

2 Sheets- Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 67!,222. I Patentad Apr. 2, I901.

J J. MUULE.

TRUCK. (Application filed Aug. 7, 1900.) (No Model.) 2-ShaotsSheet 2.

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ATTORNEYS at the opposite ends of the frame.

NlTED STATES ATENT FFICE.

TRUCKL SPEGIFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 671,222, datedApril 2, 1901.

' Application filed August 7, 1900. Serial No. 26,170. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN'JAMEs MOULE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and Improved Truck, of which thefollowing is a Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing a truck and itsload-supporting platform in the position preparatory to moving thetruck. Fig. 2 is a similar section, but showing a position assumed bythe truck while moving. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the truck. Fig. at is across-section, and Fig. 5 is a plan view, of the platform. I

The truck comprises a frame consisting of longitudinal side members 1 2and two intermediate longitudinal members 4 and 5, between the extendedends of which are rollers 6, the several longitudinal members beingconnected at the ends by cross-bars 7. At

its center the truck is supported by a series of rollers consisting ofouter rollers 8 and rollers 9, which are placed between the outermembers and the next adjacent inner members of the frame, and a centralroller 9, the several rollers being placed on a shaft 10. The truckwhile being moved in either direction, as will be hereinafter described,is designed to have a rocking motion. Therefore the under sides of thelongitudinal members of the frame are curved in both directions from thecenter outward and upward, making them substantially in the form ofrockers.

For assisting in' moving the truck I employ propelling devices in theform of legs pivoted A propelling device 11 at one end of the framecoacts with a similar propelling device 12 at the opposite end of theframe. Another pair of propelling devices 13 and 14 has pivotalconnection within the frame similarly to the pellersis to be employedwhile moving the truck in one direction andthe other pair is to beemployed when moving the truck in the 0pposite direction. Each propelleris provided on its free end with pins or projections 15, designed toenter the ground, and of course while one pair of propelling devices isin use the other pair must be held upward out of possible engagementwith the ground. For this purpose I employ a rope 16, which connects atits respective ends with the propellers 11 and 13, passing through aneye 17 on the frame and adapted toengage pins 18 at one end of theframe. A similar rope 19 conmeets the propellers l2 and 14,passingthrough an eye 20 on the frame. When a pair of propellers is to be drawnupward, this may be done by pulling upon the rope connecting therewith,after which the rope may be coiled or otherwise secured to the pins orthe like on the side members of the frame or to any other convenientpoint.

It may be here stated that I employ five or more wheels for the truck,so as to prevent the wheels from sinking into soft ground, as is veryoften found in brick-yards or the like.

A load-platform 21 is designed to be carried by the truck, and to theside members 22 of this platform legs 23 are pivoted, the legs beingsufficiently long when in their lowered position to raise the under sideof the platform above the top of the truck-frame, so that the truck maybe readily moved underneath the platform or removed therefrom.

In operation after placing a load of bricks or other material on theload-platform, which, as before described, is to be supported byits legs23, the truck is to be moved underneath the same and draw-ropes 2e areto be passed through openings 25 in the ends of the platform. After thisby swinging the legs 23 upward, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1,the platform will be caused to rest upon the truck. When the truck anddrying-platform are in the position indicated in the drawings,

all that is required to do to take out the truck is to hook a horse tothe drawing-rope 24; and the truck comes out. The table remains forseveral days while the bricks are drying. I then run the truck under thetable, pass rope 24 through a hole 25, hook on the horse, and he pullsthe entire thing together. The table-legs take care of themselves. Asthe table and truck move together the legs draw back and the truckreceives the load. Now, assuming that the truck is to be moved in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, the-propelling devices 11and 13 are to be released, so that their free ends will come inengagement with the ground. Upon rocking the forward end of thetruck-frame downward the propelling device 13 by engaging with theground and while the horse is drawing on the rope of the truck will actto aid the truck in its upward and onward movement. While this forwardend is being rocked upward the rear end of course will be moveddownward, so that its propelling device 11 may move into operativeengagement with the ground. This rocking and drawing operation is to becontinued until the destination of the truck shall have been reached.

By this device it is evident that very heavy loads may be moved withcomparative ease, and the propellers, acting as levers, serve inaterially in forcing the device along.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A truck,comprising a frame,wheels upon which theframe is mounted, said wheels being at the longitudinal center of thetruckframe, and swinging propelling devices at opposite ends of thetruck-frame, substantially as specified.

2. A truck, comprising a frame, a plurality s a es of wheels upon whichthe frame is mounted, the said wheels being located at the longitudinalcenter of the frame, two pairs of propelling devices mounted to swing onthe frame, the propellers of a pair being located near opposite ends ofthe frame, and means for holding the propellers in a position out ofengagement with the ground, substantially as specified.

3. I A truck, comprising a frame, wheels on which said frame is mountedand upon the shaft of which the frame has a rocking motion, swingingpropelling devices near opposite ends of the frame, a load-platform, andlegs for said platform by means of which it may be supported above thetruck, substantially as specified.

4. A truck-frame, comprising a series of longitudinal members,cross-bars connecting the ends of the longitudinal members, the severalmembers being curved outward and upward from the center toward the ends,wheels located at the longitudinal center of the frame, two pairs ofpropelling devices in the form of levers pivoted to the frame atopposite sides of the wheels, the said propelling devices being curvedon their free ends, the curve of one pair being in an opposite directionto the curve of the other pair, pins or projections on said free ends,and means for supporting one pair of propelling devices in an elevatedposition while the other pair is in use, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN JAMES MOULE.

